RUSSIA NEW WORLD CHAMPION!

Russia recalled the title when the final of this year's World Championship was settled in Khabarovsk, Sunday, February 4. In the final, the Russian team won Sweden after a smooth and dramatic match. Probably the match was already settled during the first few minutes when Almaz Mirgazov shuffled the Swedish team by two quick goals. 1-0 after 2 minutes and 2-0 after just 5 minutes.

But Sweden got together and came back and dominated the game for a long time. After 63 minutes, the score was 4-4 and the match was exciting. 78 minutes into the game, Almaz Mirgazov became hero of the match and scored a goal for 5-4.

The last time Russia became world champion was 2015, then also in Khabarovsk. In the last two years Sweden has become world champion, in Ulyanovsk 2016 and in Sandviken 2017.
Finland took the bronze after victory against Kazakhstan 8-4.

Team USA achieved great success when the team beat Norway in the fifth place match. This landmark victory finally came after 35 years of competition between the two countries, going all the way back to the first game in Oslo 1983. The lucky scorers for USA in this historic game was Mike Carman 2 goals and Wyatt Wenzel 1 goal. The teams had met 24 times since 1983, with Norway winning 22 times and two games ending in ties. Coach Chris Halden and Team Leader Chris Middlebrook, both have participated in one way or another every game against Norway since 1983. It will be very exciting to follow Team USA in next years World Championship in Vänersborg, Sweden. Perhaps the three major teams, Russia, Sweden and Finland must beware!

Norway finished in sixth place, Germany in seventh and Hungary in eighth place. Hungary will move to Group B to next year and Netherlands, who won the Group B, will replace Hungary in Group A.